Abstract: The invention relates to a composition having at least one polyurethane polymer comprising isocyanate groups, at least one monomer comprising isocyanate groups, and at least one silicon dioxide comprising on its surface functional groups which are reactive with respect to isocyanate groups. The silicon dioxide is present in the form of particles which have an average particle size of ?100 ?m and a specific surface area of ?100 m2/g. Furthermore, the functional groups of the silicon dioxide are at least partially reacted with isocyanate groups of the monomer comprising isocyanate groups.

Abstract: The invention relaters to a process for the production of an (S)- or (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate, comprising reacting a 4-haloacetoacetate with hydrogen in the presence of a solvent, the solvent being a solvent mixture, which comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, preferably methanol, ethanol or propanol, and the second solvent is aprotic and comprises at least one oxygen atom; and a catalyst of the formula [RuXYZ]X, wherein X is halogen, preferably Cl or Br, or OAc, acetoacetate, allyl or ClO4, Y is a bidentate organic ligand having two phosphine groups, and Z is an arene, preferably cymene, benzene, xylene or toluene, or a polyene, preferably a diene, or an alkene.

Abstract: Betaines of formula R3N+-Q-COO? (I), wherein R is C1-4 alkyl and Q is C1-4 alkanediyl, optionally substituted with hydroxy, are prepared in one step by adding an ?-halocarboxylate of formula X-Q-COOR? (II), wherein Q is as defined above, R? is Cl1-4 alkyl and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, to an aqueous solution containing a tertiary amine of formula R3N (III), Wherein R is as defined above and a base selected from alkali hydroxides and alkaline earth hydroxides. The process is particularly suited to the production of L-carnitine.

Abstract: The invention relaters to a process for the production of an (S)- or (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate, comprising reacting a 4-haloacetoacetate with hydrogen in the presence of a solvent, the solvent being a solvent mixture, which comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, preferably methanol, ethanol or propanol, and the second solvent is aprotic and comprises at least one oxygen atom; and a catalyst of the formula [RuXYZ]X, wherein X is halogen, preferably Cl or Br, or OAc, acetoacetate, allyl or ClO4, Y is a bidentate organic ligand having two phosphine groups, and Z is an arene, preferably cymene, benzene, xylene or toluene, or a polyene, preferably a diene, or an alkene.

Abstract: Betaines of formula R3N+-Q-COO? (I), wherein R is C1-4 alkyl and Q is C1-4 alkanediyl, optionally substituted with hydroxy, are prepared in one step by adding an ?-halocarboxylate of formula X-Q-COOR? (II), wherein Q is as defined above, R? is C11-4 alkyl and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, to an aqueous solution containing a tertiary amine of formula R3N (III), Wherein R is as defined above and a base selected from alkali hydroxides and alkaline earth hydroxides. The process is particularly suited to the production of L-carnitine.

Abstract: N-Aryl or N-heteroarylformamides are prepared by hydrogenating a corresponding nitroarene or nitroheteroarene with formic acid and/or ammonium formate as hydrogen donor and formylating agent in the presence of at least one noble metal-based hydrogenation catalyst and a vanadium or molybdenum compound as co-catalyst.

Abstract: N-Aryl or N-heteroarylformamides are prepared by hydrogenating a corresponding nitroarene or nitroheteroarene with formic acid and/or ammonium formate as hydrogen donor and formylating agent in the presence of at least one noble metal-based hydrogenation catalyst and a vanadium or molybdenum compound as co-catalyst.

Abstract: Cyanoacetamides of the formula: and corresponding salts thereof; N?-(cyanoacetyl)-L-histidines, of the formula: and salts, tautomers and esters thereof; and N?-(cyanoacetyl)-3-methyl-L-histidines of the formula: and salts and esters thereof.

Abstract: Manganese(IV) complex salts of formula [LMn(?-O)3MnL]n[XM12O40]m, (I), wherein L is 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, X is P or Si, M is Mo or W, n is 2 or 3, and m is 1 or 2, with the provisos that (i) if X is Si, then n=2 and m=1 and (ii) if X is P, then n=3 and m=2. These compounds are active catalysts in the partial oxidation of various organic compounds with peroxy compounds, e.g., the preparation of ketones from secondary alcohols or the epoxidation of olefins.

Abstract: Cyanoacetamides of the formula: and corresponding salts thereof; N?-(cyanoacetyl)-L-histidines, of the formula: and salts, tautomers and esters thereof; and N?-(cyanoacetyl)-3-methyl-L-histidines of the formula: and salts and esters thereof.

Abstract: ?-alaninamides of the general formula Wherein R1 is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with hyroxy, amino, carboxy, carbamoyl, methylmercapto, guanidino, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or heteroaryl, and R2 is hydrogen, or R1 and R2 together form a group of the formula —(CH2)n— where n is 3 or 4, and R3 is hydrogen, a negative charge compensated by an equivalent of an inorganic or organic cation or is C1-6 alkyl, are prepared, without using an amino-protective group, by reacting the corresponding ?-amino acid or the corresponding ?-amino acid ester with a cyanoacetic ester to give a cyanoacetamide and by subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The method is particularly suitable for preparing carnosine (?-alanyl-L-histidine, R1=imidazol-4-yl-methyl, R2=R3=H), a naturally occurring dipeptide which used as a dietary supplement with antioxidative action.

Abstract: Manganese(IV) complex salts of formula [LMn(?—O)3MnL]n[XM12O40]m, (I), wherein L is 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, X is P or Si, M is Mo or W, n is 2 or 3, and m is 1 or 2, with the provisos that (i) if X is Si, then n=2 and m=1 and (ii) if X is P, then n=3 and m=2. These compounds are active catalysts in the partial oxidation of various organic compounds with peroxy compounds, e.g., the preparation of ketones from secondary alcohols or the epoxidation of olefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to &bgr;-alaninamides of general formula (I), wherein: R1 represents hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl which is optionally substituted by hydroxy, amino, carboxy, carbamoyl, methylmercapto, guanidino, or by optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; R2 represents hydrogen or R1 and R2, together, form a group of formula —(CH2)n, wherein n represents 3 or 4, and; R3 represents hydrogen, a negative charge compensated for by an equivalent of an inorganic or organic cation or represents C1-C6 alkyl. The &bgr;-alaninamides are produced without using an amino protective group by reacting the corresponding &agr;-amino acid or the corresponding &agr;-amino acid ester with a cyanoacetic acid to form a cyanoacetic acid amide and by a subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The method is particularly suited for producing carnosine (&bgr;alanyl-L-histidine, R1=imidazol-4-yl-methyl, R2═R3═H), a naturally occurring dipeptide, which is used as a food additive having an antioxidant effect.